If you are planning to visit this wonderful and glorious city, which not once distinguished itself in hard times for the country and the world, be sure to check out the sights of Lugansk — they are very diverse and will leave only positive impressions.
In general, rest in Lugansk can be spent in different ways: now it is not only an industrial, but also a scientific and cultural center of eastern Ukraine. Therefore, all guests of the city is offered a variety of leisure options — from visiting museums and excursions to the glorious places of the city, to the most modern options — shopping and nightclubs.
Developed major center of this city was not always, history of Lugansk is the history of the industrial city, which began with a small settlement around the foundry established in 1795 by Catherine II. In 1797, the settlement that sprang up around the factory was officially named «Luganskiy Zavod Village».
The fate of this plant, as well as the fate of the city itself, was great, but it experienced ups and downs. The first blast furnace in Ukraine started working here, the plant became a «pioneer» of southern metallurgy. During the Patriotic (1812), Crimean (1853-1856), Russian-Turkish (1877-1878) wars Lugansk Foundry and Cannon Factory was the main supplier of ammunition and cannons for the Russian army. The importance of this factory for Ukraine and Russia can hardly be overestimated: it not only provided the military with ammunition, but also took a great part in the construction of cities, churches during the development of Ukraine. Nevertheless, on June 20, 1887 the tsar adopted a decree on its closure. The decline of the plant began after the Crimean War, following the results of which Russia was forbidden to have military bases and fleet in the Black Sea. The memory of the foundry, its importance in the history of the city are forever fixed on the coat of arms of Lugansk, in the very center of which the factory pipe is depicted.
With the closure of the plant the history of Lugansk does not end. Due to the favorable position between the port cities and the central provinces of Taganrog and Rostov, trade began to develop actively in the city, the city was built, grew and developed.
It is interesting that the first street in Lugansk was «English». It was due to the fact that the entire management staff at the plant were Englishmen, and at the time of active development of the city, the Englishmen became the owners of many stores. It was on this street that V.I. Dahl, an outstanding Russian writer and scientist, compiler of the explanatory dictionary, was born. Two pre-revolutionary houses have been preserved here — they are important sights of Lugansk. Vladimir Dahl grew up in one of them, now there is his memorial museum, and the second one is famous for the fact that K.E. Voroshilov created the first red detachment in the city, with which he opposed the Hungarians. Everyone who comes on vacation in Lugansk visits these houses.
K.E. Voroshilov is another personality with whom the history of Lugansk is closely connected, in honor of this military commander the city was twice renamed Voroshilovgrad. Voroshilov was born in present-day Lysychansk, later he did a lot for the establishment of Soviet power, was Stalin’s close associate, held the most important leadership positions.
Lugansk was actively developing until the civil war, when it became an arena of armed struggle. In 1924, it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for the important revolutionary services of the city’s residents. During the heavy battles of 1919 with the troops of General Denikin, Lugansk residents stood in a living chain and passed cartridges by hand. The most important sights of Lugansk are connected with this feat: a monument, a tank and an obelisk on the Ostroy Grave.
The city and its residents had a hard time during the Second World War. It was then that many historical sights of Lugansk were destroyed, like many cities of Ukraine, this place did not manage to preserve its original face because of the war with the Germans. The history of Lugansk during the war was hard: it was occupied for 212 days (July 17, 1942 — February 14, 1943).
After the end of the wars the city began to rise from the ruins. Factories and houses were rebuilt, a new center with a highway on Sovetskaya Street was formed — Lugansk acquired a modern look. During this period, objects of not only utilitarian importance were built here, but also many memorials, monuments, sculptural compositions.
Despite the significant destruction during the war years, Lugansk managed to preserve several old landmarks. In addition to two houses of the early XIX century, which now house the museums of V.I. Dahl and K.E. Voroshilov, it is the Peter and Paul Church of 1792-1796 — the oldest building in the city.
Planning vacation in Lugansk, pay attention to the modern attractions of the city: visit the largest church in South-East Ukraine — St. Vladimir’s Cathedral, built in 1993, the park-museum of stone sculptures in the National Pedagogical University, museum of local lore and aviation-technical museums.